Senegal and Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Jackson is facing strong criticism online after a social media post he made about the recent racial abuse targeting Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr.
The controversy began during a Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid on Tuesday night. The game at Benfica’s home stadium was paused for nearly ten minutes after reports that Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni had racially abused Vinicius Jnr.
The incident has sparked a major debate in the football fraternity. Many people have shown support for the Brazilian winger, while others are calling for clear proof before making any judgments.
In the middle of this heated discussion, Jackson shared his thoughts on the matter. The Senegalese striker, who is on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea, posted a message on social media that has since caused a stir.
“Don’t do that, brother,” Jackson wrote in his post, which was directed at Vinicius Jnr. “If they called you a monkey because you’re black, answer them the same way. Call them ‘white pigs.’ The problem will solve itself.”
Jackson added monkey and pig emojis along with his message.
The post has been met with widespread criticism. Many people argue that Jackson’s comments are an example of reverse racism. They say that responding to racism with more insults goes against the efforts to fight discrimination in football and in society.
Critics also noted that Jackson’s message does not help the cause of removing racism from the sport. Instead, they say it could make tensions worse.
The original incident involving Vinicius Jnr is still being discussed, with many waiting for official action from UEFA, European football’s governing body.